Group Milwaukee sets Coast Guard record for law enforcement performance

MILWAUKEE – Coast Guard Group Milwaukee led the U.S. Coast Guard in law enforcement boardings and removing drunken boaters from the water in 2004, becoming the first Coast Guard command to lead the Service in both law enforcement performance categories during the same year.

            For the record, Group Milwaukee units completed 4,567 boardings and cited 161 boaters for Boating Under the Influence. 

            “Our theme on the water this year was “make it count,” said Commander Scott LaRochelle, Group Milwaukee’s commanding officer.  “And the boat crews and boarding teams certainly stepped up to the challenge as evidenced by their record setting effort.”

            Group Milwaukee’s law enforcement team consists of nine small boat search and rescue stations operating on western Lake Michigan.  These stations include (from north to south) Washington Island, Sturgeon Bay, Green Bay, Two Rivers, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Kenosha, Wilmette Harbor, Ill. and Calumet Harbor, Ill.  Approximately 275 active duty and 75 reserve personnel work at these units. 

            The Coast Guard’s next leading commands for law enforcement boardings were Buffalo, Baltimore and New York with 3758, 3451 and 3384 boardings respectively.  The next leading commands for Boating Under the Influence charges were New Orleans, Buffalo and St. Petersburg with 56, 40 and 29 BUI citations respectively.  Group Milwaukee’s BUI total was nearly 300% higher than the runner up command from New Orleans.

            “We have zero tolerance for drunk boaters on Lake Michigan,” said Chief Petty Officer Mark Stevens, officer in charge of USCG Station Wilmette Harbor.  Stevens’ crew led all small boat stations with 72 BUI cases.  “Drunken boat operators pose the greatest threat to recreational boating safety… a threat not only to themselves and those on their boat, but to the safety of all law abiding boaters on the water.”

            Group Milwaukee’s law enforcement presence has dramatically increased over previous years.  In 2003, the Group finished second in total boardings and first in BUI cases.

            “Congress has played a major role in enabling us to reach this level of performance,” LaRochelle said.  “Post 9-11, they (Congress) upgraded our small boat stations with faster boats and additional boat crews.”

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Media advisory:  For more information, contact Lt. Hegedus.  Photos attached electronically.